Quilting with disabilities

[Eileen K.]

Rachel,
I may have told you this before but--going public with these things can very often get you what you need.
Is there a consumer advocate you can contact? Either your local newspaper or TV station.
Eileen

[Eileen K.]

My lawyer and my DR. are furious. My Dr. called this morning because the Dr. that I seen yesterday and my lawyer called him. He told me to come and get samples andnever to go without again. My lawyer is calling the insurance company and demanding answers. He says there is no excuse. My DH is going to take me to the Dr. to get the samples when he gets home from work because I can't turn my head from side to side. My Dad is on the same pain meds as I am so I did get some sleep last night. The Dr. I seen yesterday was a rhuematologist (I know that is spelled wrong). So I guess if I had to go without meds this was the time to do it. He says I'm a mess. :roll: I could have told him that. :P He ordered a ton of blood work and Xrays. He also would like to get me off some of the meds that I am on and make it so I am only taking 1 or 2 pills instead of 9 or 10. Right now I don't want to go public with what this Ins. company is doing because of the lawsuit. I'll just let my lawyer deal with it. Thanyou all for being so encouraging. It really means a lot my family tries to understand but it's hard for them. Rachel

[Frances L.]

Rachel, I know how hard it can be dealing with insurance companies. My DH, DS, and I were rear ended years ago. We all see a chiropractor as part of our regular care. We wanted the ins co to pay for a couple of extra visits to the chiro and they refused. Our chiro gave us the name of a lawyer. After the lawyer got involved, they not only paid for the chiro visits, but each of us also got money for pain and suffering plus the lawyer's fees. What would have cost them less than $500 ended up costing them almost $20,000.
I have potentially good news. I have nerve problems in my back that act up when I use my right hand and arm. It's from a different car accident (drunk driver). Well when I was sick last week, I didn't take my meds for 3 days without any pain. I was in for my quarterly appt with the pain doc's PA and told her this. We we are trying the Lyrica once a day instead of 3 times a day. If I'm still doing ok, then great. If not add in one more. We'll see today because I have a quilt that I need to get done.
Frances

[Frances L.]

Frances,
That's great that you are able to take less meds. My son just brought my sewing machine over to me and put it on a kitchen chair. He set it up and everything. I was shocked. He said "I know you feel better when you sew, maybe you can sew and rest at the same time. He really is a sweet kid. So I am trying to work on a block that I want to get right. If it wasn't so cold here today I probably would feel better. I do hope that you continue to feel better. I hate being drugged up. By the way how's things in your piece of the world? :?:

[Frances L.]

Rachel,
Your son is such a sweetie. It's hot here in Austin again! I have a quilt that's 12x10 squares. I've got most of the squares sewn together is groups of 2 and 4 rows sewn together already. I'm taking a break and will be back at it soon. Won't get the top done today because I'm waiting for a block to be overnighted back to me. Hopefully it'll show up tomorrow. I start PT tomorrow for my ankle. I'm still sewing with my left foot, but still take breaks because no matter how I sit, it still puts some pressure on my right ankle.
Frances

[Frances L.]

Frances, what exactly did you do to your ankle again? I know you probably told me but my memory is so bad it's pathetic. My family usually jokes when I get mad that I'll be over it before even I know it. Or better yet my DH will say I guess you forgot you were giving me the silent treatment. Anyway it was a somewhat productive day. I got the heart quilt pattern figured out. Now I know how you can do it in strips! YEAH ME :!: :!: :!: I also got a lot done on my cathedral windows quilt. :P If I were to put it together now it would be baby size. I sew for about15 minutes and rest for about 30. and that is my day. Rachel

[Frances L.]

Rachel,
Good for you, taking rests. My Dr. and Chiropractor told me the same thing. I actually bought a small timer to use to remind me to take breaks. I broke my ankle back in March and am still having problems with it. I start PT tomorrow morning.
Frances

[Eileen K.]

I've got an appointment with my pain mgmt doctor this afternnon. I have to tell her that the cortisone shot she gave me in my right elbow last month wore off and that the burning sensation I've had in my right forearm has now extended to that elbow. I've also been having problems with my neck again. Toward the end of each day, I can barely hold my head up so I have to lean it back against the headrest on my sofa. Only problem with that, I'm feeling pressure pushing on the lower back of my head so it's not comfortable leaning my head back. I usually end up kind of leaning to one side.
I know that my pain is nothing compared to many people but I'm so afraid that I'm losing the ability to function. I'm driving with one hand, I can't keep my head in the right position to sew or quilt for very long.
I'm just depressed and the Wellbutrin doesn't do much. I feel very weepy a lot of the time.
I'll let you know what the doc says.
Sorry for complaining.
eileenkny

[Eileen K.]

Eileen, you are not complaining, you are venting and that is neccessary sometimes. If we don't vent we may explode :lol: :P 8) Just joking!! For years I had pain from my back and from fibromyalgia. It is difficult to get the right care at times when needed and have people understand what you are going through. I completely understand the difficulties. I wish that I had some good advice but all I can say is hang in there and keep venting. I hope that things will get better for you soon. I finally got a prescription for fibro that works and they opperated on my back (birth defect). I had to really push the DR. ?? that was treating me at the time to do something. I am better but not perfect.

[Judith T.]

Eileen, glad you are going to have a change of scenery and near KQ to add to your delights. Maybe all of that shopping will help you forget that you are in a lot of pain. I have only minor aches and pains so I have no clue what you are going through but a little quilt shopping can't hurt. Judy in AZ where it is going to be 112 today

[Judith T.]

First off I want to appologize to everyone for being whiney yesterday. ops: I try to be very opptomistic but rainy days get to me. I know that is no excuse but it is true. I love thunderstorms, but gloomy overcast depresses me. That and being without my meds for so long just was too much I guess. Anyway Eileen please make sure you tell you Dr. about your tired neck and the depression especially. Maybe you could use a soft neck brace at night while awake so that you can still be productive and have your neck supported? I know when I worked in the nursing home we used them on a couple ladies after 5pm because they were just to tired to keep their head up. I'm talking about the kind you get for mild neck injuries, not the stiff hard ones. It's just a thought. Frances what kind of pain are you still having in your foot. Did it just not heal right? Remember this is only June so it is not too unrealistic to think that it is still in the healling stage. Afterall we aren't 18 anymore Remember you probably didn't listen completely to ALL the Dr. instructions. As my DH say it's Dr. INSTRUCTIONS NOT ADVICE! :roll: like he knows anything right :?: :mrgreen: Well I hope you all feel better soon Rachel

[Judith T.]

Hello :!: I have some good news or at least I hope it is. I went to my Neurologist today. I explained to her what was going on with the insurance company and my meds. She gave me a bunch of samples that the other Dr. didn't have and then called the insurance company to give them a peice of her mind. Oh boy did she ever :!: I was standing right there and she curtly explained why I was on the meds and that if they had a problem with it they should have called her and not just taken it upon themselves to not pay for them. Afterall she was the Dr. not them and it was her oppinion that mattered as to what was good for her patient. Meanwhile where does this women get off thinking that after 2 years of being on this med and it being paid for that suddenly I would no longer need it. Then my Dr. sent exactly what the med was for and why I was on it and the dangers of me being off it by fax. It was amazing and awesome Up until that moment I was having such a rotten day. This insurence lady was refusing to pay for not only this med but also the xrays from my accident. I had found out this over the weekend. Anyway things are looking up Rachel

[Patti P.]

Rachel - that is good news indeed. Nice to have an advocate - so hard to find.

[Eileen K.]

Rachel, make that doctor a quilt!! WooHoo!!!!!!!!!!! I am so happy that you've got her on your side.
Eileen

[Eileen K.]

Ok Good news and bad news. The bad news is that Dr. did not get the letter sent out like she wanted. Apparently it has to go through some dictation process. She did talk to the insurance person on the phone and to my lawyer. BUT until the insurance company gets the letter they won't do anything. Good news is she just sent me another weeks worth of meds. Granted I don't have my Loratab but I am trying to cope without it. Not very well I might add. My Dad is on them and he has offered me some of his. Of course I said no. He doesn't understand that he could be in big trouble if he gave me those. Mean while has any of you heard of Sjogren's Syndrome? I am in the process of looking it up.
Rachel